Airbus has invested in US-based battery technology company Amprius. Amprius will direct the funding to its new batteries based on silicon nanowire anode technology, supporting the development of higher-volume production capacity and higher energy density cells. Airbus aerospace programs such as Zephyr High Altitude Pseudo Satellite and Urban Air Mobility stand to benefit from improved… Read more »
Search Results Found For: "Silicon Mobility"
SiC vs GaN semiconductors for EV power converters: Tech Opinion
Just as engineers are starting to get used to the advantages (and quirks) of silicon carbide (SiC ) devices, another semiconductor material joins the fray: gallium nitride, or GaN. Though there are some superficial similarities between these two materials, and even some overlap in their areas of best use, it is my opinion that only… Read more »
Fraunhofer develops GaN power ICs with integrated sensors
Researchers from the Fraunhofer Institute have integrated current and temperature sensors, 600 V-class power transistors, freewheeling diodes, and gate drivers onto a gallium nitride (GaN)-based semiconductor chip. The new circuit measures 4 x 3 mm and enables high switching frequencies and a high power density, while providing fast and accurate condition monitoring, according to the… Read more »
German parts maker ZF looks to bring racing car technologies to production EVs
Since 2016, German parts maker ZF has supplied technology for French EV maker Venturi’s team in the FIA Formula E racing series. ZF has developed an electric drive for the team, which includes a 250 kW electric motor with a specially designed transmission ratio and power electronics. ZF says this drive enjoys much higher energy… Read more »
Autonomy: The Quest to Build the Driverless Car – And How It Will Reshape Our World (book review)
When it comes to vehicle autonomy, you could hardly find someone more experienced than Larry Burns, who was deeply involved with GM’s autonomy and electrification efforts as Corporate VP of R&D and Planning from 1998 to 2009, and later an important consultant to Google’s Waymo. In “Autonomy: The Quest to Build the Driverless Car –… Read more »
BYTON raises $500 million in Series B funding, opens global headquarters in Nanjing
EV startup BYTON has concluded a Series B fundraising round, attracting a total of $500 million, which it will invest in mass production, R&D and product development. “The success of this funding round highlights how diversified strategic investors will further expand BYTON’s circle of friends and broaden our development opportunities,” said BYTON President and co-founder… Read more »
Top circuit protection requirements to consider when designing an automotive battery pack
Littelfuse helps the auto industry navigate new electrical engineering challenges When engineers design a battery pack, they tend to focus first on its core functionality and value proposition. For a high-end energy storage device, those core attributes are typically things like total pack energy density, cost minimization, packaging efficiency, peak power and state-of-the-art thermal management…. Read more »
ODU offers the complete EV connections solutions for OEM and Teir 1 customers
Sponsored by ODU-USA Although mass-produced hybrid and electric cars have been commercially available since the 1990’s, the field is still very much in an evolutionary state, driven largely by two key factors: Greater vehicle range Shorter stops at re-charging stations The second of these does not necessarily imply actual re-charging. A more recent innovation involved… Read more »
BMW i Ventures makes strategic investment in electric bus company Proterra
Electric bus manufacturer Proterra has closed a Series 6 round of funding, raising $55 million from various investors, including BMW i Ventures. Proterra will use the new money to increase production at its manufacturing facilities in South Carolina and Los Angeles, and to boost R&D efforts at company headquarters in Silicon Valley. For BMW i… Read more »
Tesla Model 3: What we know and what we don’t know
Tesla made automotive history on March 31, when it unveiled the culmination of its master plan to bring EVs to the masses. The company has committed to delivering a car with the parameters that pundits have identified as the tipping point for widespread EV sales: 200 miles of range and a price tag in the… Read more »